OSHA Cites Ga. Roofing Company for Safety Hazards

The U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Atlas Roofing Corporation for alleged safety violations after an employee’s hand was amputated in April at the company’s Hampton, Georgia facility. Proposed penalties total $108,000.

OSHA issued five repeat citations to the company, with a proposed penalty of $75,000, for reportedly exposing workers to “caught-by” injuries from unguarded equipment; electrocution from uncovered electrical fittings and boxes; and falls from catwalks without guardrails, as well as an inadequate nozzle on compressed air piping. Atlas Roofing had reportedly been cited previously for similar conditions and the citations have become final orders of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Administration Review Commission.

The company also received 11 serious citations, with proposed penalties totaling $33,000, for alleged violations that include failure to develop and implement lockout-tagout procedures to render machinery inoperable during maintenance and repair, obstructed exit routes and not preventing employees from being exposed to other machine guarding and electrical hazards.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.